LinkedIn Premium is LinkedIn’s paid subscription service that unlocks additional features beyond the free version of LinkedIn. Premium subscribers get access to more robust profile views, advanced searching and messaging, job seeking tools, and insights about their own profile and content. But can you actually tell who has a Premium subscription just by looking at their profile or activity on the platform? Here are some tips for spotting LinkedIn Premium users.
1. They have a “Premium” badge on their profile
The most obvious way to identify LinkedIn Premium subscribers is that they will have a “Premium” badge featured directly on their profile. This badge is only visible to other logged-in LinkedIn members, not to the general public. The Premium badge is LinkedIn’s way of designating and recognizing paying members. If you see the blue and gold Premium badge on a profile, you can be certain that person has the Premium subscription.
2. They have a more complete public profile
Premium members are able to expand their public profiles beyond what a free account can access. For example, Premium allows you to display more than 3 positions in your work experience, feature more than 5 skills in your skills section, and show off more than 50 endorsements. A more robust public profile with expanded sections for work history, skills, education, and endorsements may be an indicator of a Premium account.
3. You can view more detailed profile statistics
LinkedIn Premium unlocks more detailed analytics on profile views and other metrics. When you view the profile of a Premium member, you’ll often see expanded statistics including who has viewed their profile, how many post impressions they’ve received, and a demographic breakdown of their profile visitors. Free members have access to much more limited analytics.
4. They have a unique professional headline
Premium allows members to customize the headline that appears below their name with unique formatting and emojis. Rather than just their current job title, Premium members may have a headline that showcases their value proposition, years of experience, specializations, or personality. Catchy premium headlines help members stand out in search results and listings.
5. They have premium profile badges
In addition to the main “Premium” badge, LinkedIn offers subscribers smaller profile badges to highlight additional achievements and certifications. Premium badges include:
- Job Seeker – Indicates an active job searcher
- Open for Work – Signals openness to new job opportunities
- Open to Work Serving Veterans – Highlights veterans seeking jobs
- Career Explorer – Shows curiosity and willingness to learn
These special call-out badges are only available to Premium members.
6. They have an updated background photo
Premium members can replace LinkedIn’s default gray background with a custom background photo on their profile. Having a banner photo that aligns with your personal brand helps your profile stand out and look more distinctive. The ability to upload a unique banner photo beyond the LinkedIn stock image is a Premium privilege.
7. They appear at the top of search results
One benefit of Premium is getting increased visibility in LinkedIn’s search results. Premium profiles may appear above profiles of those with free accounts when search results are displayed. If you consistently see the same member at the top of various search listings, it’s likely they have Premium.
8. They have a rich digital presence
Premium subscribers often cultivate a robust digital presence that goes beyond a basic LinkedIn profile. Look for links to a professional website or portfolio, published articles, presentation slides, or links to other social profiles. The ability to deeply customize your LinkedIn profile and highlight external assets shows strong investment in personal branding.
9. They have more than 500 connections
Expanding your network is easier with Premium tools. Users who connect with over 500 professionals may be Premium subscribers taking advantage of larger connection capabilities. The number of connections can serve as a general benchmark for identifying power networkers on the platform.
10. They send you an InMail
One of LinkedIn Premium’s core features is the ability to send InMail messages to any member without needing a direct connection. If you receive an InMail from someone not in your network, that signals they likely have a Premium account. InMail access helps Premium users forge new professional relationships.
11. They have a dynamic media presence
Premium unlocks the ability to add audio, video, images, slides, and other multimedia to enhance your LinkedIn posts. A member who frequently shares diverse media content or publishes long-form articles showcases their Premium status and ability to maximize LinkedIn’s expanded content tools.
12. They have a customized public URL
Premium members can claim a public profile URL that appears more clean and professional than the default URL. For example, they may use “linkedin.com/john-smith” rather than a string of random numbers and letters. A customized URL is a great branding asset for members promoting their profile.
13. They participate actively in groups
Premium group functions like seeing more group analytics and finding relevant groups make it easier to engage with the right professional communities. Heavy involvement in niche LinkedIn groups related to their industry may be a sign someone has Premium access to build connections.
14. They have published long-form articles
Publishing articles requires a Premium account. Members who regularly share posts over 1300 words long demonstrate the expanded content creation abilities included with Premium. A routine cadence of long-form thought leadership articles may belong to a Premium subscriber.
15. They have a logo next to their job title
Premium enables you to add a company or brand logo next to your job title on your profile. Displaying an official logo lends further credibility and authority to their listed position. Logos are unique identity assets that help humanize profiles.
Conclusion
While there is no single foolproof indicator that someone has a Premium LinkedIn membership, there are many helpful hints. Look for badges, expanded profiles, customization features, robust digital presence, and extra multimedia when evaluating profiles. With so many additional advantages, it’s easy to see why professionals invest in Premium to maximize their LinkedIn networking and thought leadership.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can free LinkedIn members see who has Premium?
No, regular free members cannot see the Premium badges or any explicit indicators that another member has Premium. Only paying Premium subscribers are able to view Premium badges and identify other Premium members.
Does Premium appear on your profile when viewed by the public?
No, Premium badges and indicators are only visible when logged-in members view your profile. To the general public, there is no obvious indicator that the profile belongs to a Premium subscriber.
Can you filter searches by Premium members only?
No, there is no way to filter LinkedIn searches or results based specifically on Premium membership status. You can only identify Premium users through visible profile features or by connecting with them directly.
Do Premium members get special privileges in LinkedIn Groups?
Yes, Premium members unlock extra features in LinkedIn Groups like seeing more group analytics, bookmarking discussions to revisit later, and sorting groups by most relevant to connect with the right communities.
Can you search for members by number of connections?
Yes, you can search for LinkedIn members and filter results by number of connections using the relationship filters. This can help identify power networkers who likely have Premium access.
Are Premium members always ranked higher in search?
Premium profiles may get a boost in visibility for some search rankings, but other factors like connections, content, and activity also contribute to search order. Premium alone does not guarantee the top spot for every search.
Can you filter job searches to only see Premium job posters?
No, it is not possible to filter LinkedIn job listings based on whether the job poster has Premium status. Premium does not give exclusive access to post jobs.
Do Premium subscribers get higher response rates when messaging?
There is no evidence that having Premium leads to higher response rates or acceptance rates when messaging other members. Rather, the quality of your message content will determine the response rate more than your account status.
Can Premium members hide their profile view count?
No, there is no way for any member to hide or conceal the number of profile views from their profile. All members must display their total public profile view counts.
Key Takeaways
- Look for the Premium badge and special profile callouts to definitively identify Premium users.
- Robust profiles, strong digital presence, and multimedia content signal Premium status.
- Unique customization features like custom URLs and logos are Premium perks.
- InMail messages, published articles, and active group participation require Premium.
- Higher visibility in searches and search results comes with Premium.
While not completely definitive, these tips can help uncover who is getting the most out of LinkedIn with a Premium subscription. Advanced profiling and networking capabilities give Premium the edge for maximizing your impact.